In Ziwei Sect's guest hall, the Lord of the Sword Realm, Dongfang Bo—Sect Master of Cangyan Sacred Sect, the Sacred Lords of the Western Emperor Sacred Land, the Imperial Lord of the Heavenly Dragon Ancient Kingdom, and other major figures of the Eastern Barrens took their respective seats as guests and host with Ye Yunfei. They actively engaged in conversation, talking and laughing jovially.
Not long ago, these same dignitaries in the hall were high-ranking members of the Eastern Barrens army, who had looked down upon Ye Yunfei with contempt. In particular, Dongfang Bo had personally driven away Ye Yunfei and Lü Yugang when they wanted to join the Eastern Barrens army.
Yet now, he had no choice but to come to Ziwei Sect proactively to seek an audience with Ye Yunfei.
Because Ye Yunfei's ruthless and iron-fisted methods had thoroughly frightened these major powers.
The five great factions—Zhao Family, Beast Taming Sect, Gan Family, Meng Family, and Lu Family—had nearly been exterminated by Ye Yunfei. Though they still existed now, they had become Ye Yunfei's vassal forces!
Therefore, great powers like Cangyan Sacred Sect and the Heavenly Dragon Ancient Kingdom feared Ye Yunfei might turn against them in the future.
After all, Ye Yunfei had already established himself firmly within the Eastern Barrens, commanding the will of the people and rallying countless with a single call. He was now the most influential figure in the Eastern Barrens!
Sect Leader Liu and the six elders of Ziwei Sect watched as each of the major Eastern Barrens figures actively engaged Ye Yunfei in conversation. Recalling the myriad changes that had come to Ziwei Sect since Ye Yunfei joined, they felt it was all a bit dreamlike.
The Ziwei Sect of old had declined into an insignificant minor sect within the Eastern Barrens, one that even the small Yan Kingdom's royal family could bully at will.
Now, Ziwei Sect could almost sit as equals with those great powers of the Eastern Barrens!
During this period, whenever Ziwei Sect's elders and disciples traveled outside, they were met with respect wherever they went, treated like stars revolving around the moon!
"Everyone, our Ziwei Sect has truly risen!" Sect Leader Liu sent a voice transmission to the six elders, feeling extremely excited.
"Yes.
Our Ziwei Sect has truly risen," the six elders nodded in succession.
Half a day later, Dongfang Bo and the other high-ranking members of the major factions stood up one after another, took their leave from Ye Yunfei, and departed Ziwei Sect.
After their discussion with Ye Yunfei, these leaders discovered that Ye Yunfei harbored little resentment towards their factions and were finally relieved.
Before leaving, the leaders of these major powers all pledged to strengthen cooperative relations with Ziwei Sect moving forward, aiming for mutual development.
Moreover, each major faction proactively gifted quite a few of their assets to Ziwei Sect as presents.
These great powers owned substantial business operations throughout the Eastern Barrens, which formed part of their daily income.
Ye Yunfei accepted every single one without refusal.
Ziwei Sect was currently in a period of rapid development, and these assets would be very useful.
Furthermore, Ye Yunfei had no intention of targeting great forces like Cangyan Sacred Sect.
"Su Fei, recently, almost over half of the forces in the Eastern Barrens have sent envoys requesting to establish friendly cooperative relations with our Ziwei Sect.
How do you think we should handle this?" Sect Leader Liu came before Ye Yunfei and asked.
"Sect Leader Liu, specific sect affairs of Ziwei Sect should still be decided by you and the six elders.
However, since Ziwei Sect is currently developing at a galloping pace, having more assistance is beneficial," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before replying.
Ye Yunfei knew he would not stay in the Eastern Barrens for too long, so he did not plan to meddle in Ziwei Sect's specific sect administration.
When Ye Yunfei first arrived in the Eastern Barrens, his initial goal was to restore Ziwei Sect to its former glory.
Now, this goal had been half achieved.
Of course, in ancient times, Ziwei Sect was not only the most powerful force in the Eastern Barrens, but the most powerful faction across the entire Primordial Continent. It was even renowned throughout the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds!
Even the great powers of the core worlds dared not provoke Ziwei Sect back then!
Therefore, Ye Yunfei felt his wish for Ziwei Sect's rise had only been half realized.
For Ziwei Sect to truly rise and restore its ancient strength, that would have to wait until Ye Yunfei became a Heavenly Emperor once more!
"Understood, I've got it," Sect Leader Liu nodded after hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
"Su Fei, I've encountered many difficulties recently in my cultivation. Could you help me with them?" Just after Sect Leader Liu turned to leave, Ji Yue came before Ye Yunfei and spoke.
Ji Yan was by her side, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ye Yunfei.
"Alright," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Over the next few days, Ji Yue and Ji Yan kept pestering Ye Yunfei for guidance on various cultivation problems.
For a period prior, the two young women had been in seclusion at Ziwei Sect, cultivating assiduously. They had progressed rapidly in their cultivation realms, but also encountered many obstacles.
Under Ye Yunfei's personal guidance, many of their cultivation issues were resolved, and their strength improved swiftly.
"I'd like to ask you something," one day, after clearing up a few of Ji Yue's cultivation doubts, Ye Yunfei suddenly spoke up.
"What do you want to ask?" Ji Yue was a little curious.
"Do you know where Founder Zi Sheng has gone?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
In his past life, Patriarch Zi Sheng had brought Ye Yunfei back to Ziwei Sect but left soon after, disappearing without a trace ever since.
In this life, Ye Yunfei had not encountered Patriarch Zi Sheng at all and had come to Ziwei Sect on his own.
Ye Yunfei had always wanted to know where Patriarch Zi Sheng had actually gone.
"Where Founder Zi Sheng went?" Ji Yue was taken aback.
"Founder Zi Sheng left Ziwei Sect a very long time ago, and there has been no news of him whatsoever since. I don't know where he is either.
I miss him dearly, and I too want to know where he went," Ji Yue sighed as she spoke.
"Before he left, did he tell you where he was going, or what he intended to do?" Ye Yunfei pressed.
"When he was still at Ziwei Sect, I heard him mention that he intended to follow in the footsteps of some of our Ziwei Sect's great figures from ancient times. As for specifically which ones, I don't know," Ji Yue thought for a moment before answering.
"Follow in the footsteps of Ziwei Sect's ancient great figures?" Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
"Just who is Master going to seek and follow?
Could it be… the Ziwei Great Emperor?" The thought suddenly flashed through Ye Yunfei's mind.
In fact, in his previous life, after Ye Yunfei became a Heavenly Emperor, he had also spent time searching for traces of the Ziwei Great Emperor. As a Heavenly Emperor, one would not fall easily unless attacked by an opponent of equal level. Even if one did fall, they would certainly leave behind some avatars and soul imprints within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
However, Ye Yunfei had not found any trace, avatar, or soul imprint of the Ziwei Great Emperor.
It was as if the Ziwei Great Emperor had vanished completely!
This was extremely unusual.
For a Great Emperor to disappear without leaving the slightest trace across the Three Thousand Worlds.
Ye Yunfei then thought of the Guhuang Great Emperor.
The Guhuang Great Emperor had also once been a renowned emperor within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, yet he too had disappeared without a trace.
"The Ziwei Great Emperor, the Guhuang Great Emperor… two Heavenly Emperors left behind not a single trace. Where did they go?
Why did they vanish so utterly?
Could it all be related to that World-Destroying War?
Even the Suanni in the Ancient Beast World within the Yanhuang Starfield sustained severe injuries during the World-Destroying War," Ye Yunfei pondered inwardly.
In the end, his thoughts returned to the World-Destroying War.
"Kid, your Soul Power level is quite decent now. You can try opening the third layer of the Heavenly Dao Pagoda," just then, Hun Lao's voice suddenly echoed within Ye Yunfei's soul sea.
"Alright.
I'll give it a try," Ye Yunfei nodded.